Thuja - planting and care. Thuja western - which winter-hardy varieties should be preferred? Thuja book variety description
Consider 14 winter-hardy varieties of western thuja for central Russia. Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis) - an evergreen tree or shrub from the cypress family, has many decorative forms that are used both to create hedges, and for single and group plantings.
Tui varieties often used to create hedges:
Thuja western Brabant(Thuja occidentalis Brabant)
Brabant is a tree, 4-5 meters high and with a crown diameter of up to 1.5 meters. The crown is columnar. The needles are green, turning brown in the winter months. Fast growing variety with an annual growth of 30-35 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Very cold hardy.
Perfectly tolerates a haircut, undemanding to growing conditions.
Thuja Brabant can grow both in sunny places and in slightly shaded ones. The tree feels better in places protected from the wind.
Blooms in spring, April-May. After flowering, brown ovoid cones of small size (from 0.8 to 1.2 cm) are formed, which fully ripen by autumn.
Thuja Brabant does not tolerate long-term thaws with temperature changes very well, as this can cause early sap flow.
Grows especially well in rich, moist soil. Growing on dry and poor soils will lead to the further appearance of rare branches with faded needles, abundant fruiting.
Planted in a mixture of sod / leafy soil (2 parts), peat (1 part) and sand (1 part). When planting, you can add nitroammofoski 0.5 kg per adult plant. On very wet soils, drainage is done up to 20 cm.
Container plants should be thoroughly watered before planting. root collar must be at ground level when landing.
Plants are watered after planting for a month weekly, 10 liters per plant. After watering twice a week, 15-20 liters per plant.
Loosening is used taking into account the surface root system, loosening no deeper than 10 cm. Mulching with the addition of peat or wood chips is recommended. Layer up to 7 cm. Dry shoots are easily removed in the spring.
Newly planted plants need to be covered during the first winter. This will help protect their vulnerable needles from winter and spring sunburn. Shelter is made using spruce branches or kraft paper.
The variety is widely used to create a hedge, creates the effect of a "solid green wall", planting frequency should be 0.5-0.7 m in a row. To form a dense green wall, it is recommended to cut twice a season (in March and August). If you systematically trim the shoots at the top and side shoots, you can ensure that the hedge will be kept in a size of 0.4 m wide, 2 m high.
(Thuja occidentalis Smaragd)
Smaragd is a tree up to 4-4.5 meters high, which has a pronounced conical shape, a very dense structure. The needles are dark green, rich in color, do not change color in winter.
The growth rate is low.
The variety prefers highly fertile soil and regular watering.
In the "hedge" in the upper part it does not close, therefore it is used to conditionally delimit the garden space. Good as a tapeworm in a single landing.
Thuja western Smaragd has obvious differences from its "brothers" - slow growth in height and breadth, due to which frequent haircuts are not required.
Prefers fertile moist soils, without stagnant water. Does not tolerate drought well. In dry times, watering is necessary. Light-requiring, but can grow in partial shade.
Handles haircut well. In winter, it practically does not burn out.
Winter hardiness is high, but for planting it is better to choose areas protected from the winds. It is advisable to protect young plants from early spring sunburn by covering them with covering material or burlap.
Smaragd is suitable for creating a free-growing hedge in the style of the "southern landscape" (planting step 0.5-0.6 m).
Used for both single and group plantings.
Suitable for container growing and creating various forms by topiary shearing. new, avenue plantings and as an accent in tree and shrub compositions. This variety looks great in regular style gardens.
(Thuja occidentalis columna)
Columna is a tree with a narrow columnar crown up to 6-7 meters high and up to 1.3 meters in diameter. The structure of the crown is dense, compact, with short horizontally extending dense shoots. The needles are scaly. The color of the needles is dark green, almost not changing color in winter.
It grows rapidly, up to 20 cm per year. Undemanding to soils. Winter hardiness is high.
Suitable both for creating hedges in the Mediterranean style, and as a single solo plant, reminiscent of Crimean cypress trees with its silhouette.
TO soil conditions undemanding, but better development reaches average moisture content on moderately fertile soils. Does not tolerate drought well. For planting, it is better to choose semi-shady areas.
It tolerates a haircut well, shaping pruning is carried out as needed.
In the first two years after planting, it is advisable to cover young plants with material for the winter in order to avoid early spring sunburn.
The columnar variety of thuja western Columna is often used for high (up to 4 m tall) shaped and free-growing hedges (planting step in a row of 0.5-0.7 m).
It is also used for single, group and avenue plantings, as an accent in tree and shrub compositions and for container growing. Suitable for regular style gardens.
Can be used for topiary haircuts.
Thuja western Holmstrup(Thuja occidentalis Holmstrup)
Holmstrup is a tree up to 3-3.5 meters high with a crown diameter of up to 1 meter, with a columnar crown. The structure of the needles is very dense "curly". Does not change color in winter.
The homeland of the thuja is Denmark, 1951.
It is undemanding to soils, it is frost-resistant, well transfers a haircut.
The variety is suitable for "lazy gardeners". The growth rate is very low. The annual growth is 12 cm high and 4 cm wide. It grows to its final height in about 20-40 years. In hedges, pruning can be done once every two years.
Prefers full sun, can grow in partial shade. Grows better in moist soil, tolerates moisture stagnation, tolerates some dryness.
The soil is preferably loose and fertile.
2-3 years after planting the seedling in a permanent place, they are sheltered from early spring burns;
Can be used for single landings and rockeries.
For hedges, the distance in the row between plants should be 0.7 m.
Thuja western Fastigiata(Thuja occidentalis Fastigiata)
Fastigiata is a thuja with a columnar crown shape, with shoots tightly pressed against the trunk. The needles are from light green to dark green. Reaches a height of up to 6 meters in the middle zone of Russia.
Annual growth up to 30cm. The needles are soft, dark green with a strong characteristic smell.
Handles haircut well. Almost does not change color in winter. Winter-hardy.
Shaped like a cypress. Cones inconspicuous, brown.
Thuja western Fastigiata prefers a sunny location and fertile, moderately moist loamy soils.
When planting in a wetland, care should be taken to create a good drainage system.
Tui seedlings need shading from late winter and early spring sun rays with burlap.
Mulching is recommended to create conditions for better plant survival. trunk circle mowed grass, which will improve the structure of the soil. In late autumn, the mulch should be replaced with spruce branches so that field mice do not appear.
Thuja western Fastigata - well suited for creating tall hedges that securely cover the area and at the same time do not take up much space.
Western thuja varieties for single and group plantings:
Thuja western Sunkist(Thuja occidentalis Sunkist)
Sunkist is a large, dense, shrub or small coniferous tree. Height 3-5 m, crown diameter 1-2 m. The crown is conical with densely branched branches, slightly ruffled.
Originally from Canada.
The needles of young plants are bright golden yellow, changing to lemon yellow with age, and bronze in winter.
It grows slowly, at the age of 10 years it reaches 2 m in height.
It is undemanding to soil conditions, photophilous, tolerates a haircut well. Frost-resistant.
Prefers moist fertile soils. It does not tolerate drought well, after a long dry period, in the absence of regular watering and under other adverse conditions, it can enter the phase of mass seeding, which leads to a loss of decorativeness.
Photophilous. It can grow in partial shade, but at the same time, the color of the needles fades and may acquire green tint. For planting, it is desirable to select areas protected from the wind.
It tolerates a haircut well, crown shaping is carried out as needed.
To protect against early spring burns in the first year after planting for the winter, it is advisable to cover the plants with covering material.
One of the most brightly colored varieties of western arborvitae for planting as part of coloristic tree and shrub compositions, for container growing and single planting.
It can be used to create a bright shaped hedge (with a single-row planting, the distance between plants is 0.5-0.6 m).
Suitable for creating various geometric shapes by topiary haircut.
Thuja western Wagneri(Thuja occidentalis Wagneri)
Thuja Wagneri is a tree up to 3.5 m high and up to 1.5 m wide. With a pronounced ovoid dense crown and numerous thin, vertically arranged shoots, slightly drooping at the ends.
The needles are gray-green, in winter it acquires a copper tint. The growth rate is average.
Demanding on soil conditions, prefers fertile, sufficiently moist soils. Grows best on open places. Photophilous.
The variety holds the shape of the crown well, so formative pruning is carried out only when necessary.
To prevent damage to the crown under the weight of snow, at the beginning of winter, it is advisable not to tie the shoots tightly together. Frost resistance is high.
A variety with an original crown shape, the best application for which is a solitary planting. It can also be used in single, group and alley plantings, in tree and shrub compositions and for container growing.
(Thuja occidentalis Cloth of Gold)
Claude of Gold - low shrub up to 2 meters high, up to 1.2 m wide. The crown is elongated-ovoid or conical dense. The needles are delicate, of two types - needle-shaped and scaly, from lemon yellow to yellow-orange, in winter it acquires a copper tint.
Grows slowly.
Demanding on soil conditions, prefers light, well-drained, moderately fertile soils with an alkaline reaction. Does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging.
Photophilous. It can grow in partial shade, but the color of the needles becomes less expressive.
To maintain the shape of the crown, a moderate haircut can be carried out, no more than 1/3 of the shoot.
Frost-resistant, in the first year after planting the plant for the winter, it is desirable to cover from burns, in subsequent years it does not need shelter.
A variety with an interesting crown shape, color and structure of needles, used as a tapeworm, in single and group plantings, as a color accent in tree and shrub compositions, suitable for rocky and heather gardens.
(Thuja occidentalis Globosa)
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Thuja western Globoza is a spherical shrub with a height and diameter of up to 2 m.
The needles are scaly, light green in spring, green in summer and grey-green or brownish in winter. The shoots are straight and flat, lifted up, densely arranged, overlapping, evenly expanding to the sides.
The needles are shiny green, gray-green or brownish in winter.
Growth is slow, by ten years the diameter of the crown reaches 1 m, by twenty - 1.5 m.
The crown is dense. Rejuvenating pruning should be done every two years.
Winter-hardy, shade-tolerant, drought-resistant. Needs fertile, moist soils.
Poorly tolerates dry air and needs more frequent watering than other types of thuja.
To save in winter period from breaking with snow cover, it is recommended to tie the crown or make a frame, especially for young plants.
It is used to create low hedges, borders, single and group plantings. Effectively dominates rock gardens and rocky hills.
It is also used for gardening roofs and balconies, for growing in containers.
Thuja western Woodwardy(Thuja occidentalis Woodwardii)
Woodwardy is a variety with a height of 1.5 - 2.0 m, width - up to 2 m. The crown shape is dense spherical, wide-round in old age. Shoots are straight, flat. The needles are dark green in summer and winter, do not change color.
At the age of 10, the spherical crown reaches 0.4 m in height and width.
The place of origin of Woodwardy is unknown, the time of introduction into culture before 1923.
It is winter-hardy, but in severe winters the ends of annual shoots freeze slightly. Suitable for rock gardens and lawn plantings.
The fruits are small brown.
Demanding on fertility and soil moisture. It responds well to spring top dressing, the color of the needles improves. For planting, choose sunny areas or partial shade.
The trunk circle after landing in a permanent place should be mulched with mowed grass or peat.
Thuya Woodwardy, like other evergreens, in the first year or two after planting, may suffer from late winter and early spring sunlight. Therefore, the seedling must be covered with burlap. The burlap should be removed after the snow cover has melted, in the evening hours, preferably in cloudy weather.
Thuja Woodwardy is used to create landscape compositions of trees and shrubs with contrasting foliage colors and different architecture.
Planting in mixborders, as well as a solo plant in open areas, and along the sides of the path. Looks good when breaking down a monotonous row of hedges.
Thuja western Stolvik(Thuja occidentalis Stolwijk)
Stolvik is a shrub up to 1.5 m high. The shape of the crown is hemispherical, the lower part is dense, the upper part is sparse with several trunks. The needles are green, young growths are yellow-white.
At the age of 10, the height of the plant reaches 1 m.
The variety was obtained by breeding in a Dutch nursery in 1986.
Winter-hardy variety, well propagated by cuttings.
Needs fertile and moist soils. The variety prefers a sunny location, becomes loose in the shade. It does not tolerate dry air, so on hot days you should water the plant under the root, and in the evening, apply sprinkling.
Seedlings of this variety are usually planted low, so they winter under the snow and do not suffer from spring sunburn.
Amenable to formation. To give the crown greater density, spring shortening of the shoots can be applied.
Suitable for replanting in mixborders and tree-shrub compositions, as the variety creates the effect of "splendor" of the composition. Recommended for rock gardens, Japanese gardens, compositions. Can act as a tapeworm in the open.
Should not be planted in a hedge because of the thinned top.
(Thuja occidentalis Danica)
Danica is a low shrub up to 60 cm high and up to 1 m in diameter. The crown is spherical. Shoots are short, densely spaced. The needles are dense, soft, light green, shiny, slightly bronze in winter.
Grows slowly. The annual increase in height is not more than 5 cm. It reaches its maximum height and width at about 15 years of age
WITH young age maintains an almost perfect spherical shape. Propagated exclusively by cuttings.
thuja western Danica from the cypress family, was bred in Denmark in 1948, from where it came to us.
Shade-tolerant, frost-resistant. It is used in compositions, rock gardens, to create borders, ideal for landscaping small areas.
The location that most suits the plant is the sun and partial shade. Winter-hardy for central Russia, almost never suffers from spring sunburn, because. hibernates under the snow.
It is drought-resistant, but prefers moist fertile loams. Needs to good lighting Therefore, it is better to plant it in the sun or in partial shade. In shady areas, Danica's thuja loses its shape, becomes loose and "shaggy". Thuja also does not like temperature fluctuations, which causes drying.
It prefers fertile, moist loamy soils. The site for planting thuja should be protected from the wind. In the case of proximity to groundwater, drainage from crushed stone will be required. The soil mixture should consist of soddy or leafy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. When planting, it is necessary to add mineral fertilizers.
Danica is used to create decorative groups and landscape compositions, in which it is most often a solo plant. Plants with a columnar crown shape and an ovoid are planted to it to create a balanced triangle according to the rules of the "golden section". Also, borders are made from it and planted as a tapeworm.
Thuja occidentalis Golden Globe(Thuja occidentalis Golden Globe)
Thuja western Golden Globe is a rounded shrub up to 1 m high and up to 1 m in diameter. The color of the needles is golden yellow. The yellow tips of the shoots, which get a lot of sun, completely cover the plant, inside the ball the foliage is bright green.
In autumn, the needles acquire a copper hue, in spring they become golden again.
Grows slowly. It has a small increase of 8-10 cm per year, reaching a maximum diameter of 1-1.2 m at twenty years.
Quite winter hardy.
It does not need a haircut, but sanitary pruning may be required in the spring.
Among gardeners, this variety is called "thuja yellow spherical" or "yellow ball".
It prefers light loamy soils, therefore, moderate doses of organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied to the planting mixture, and after planting, the trunk circle should be mulched with mowed grass or peat.
In late autumn, the mulch should be replaced with spruce branches so that mice do not arrange their nests in the hay, which can damage or even destroy the seedling.
Thuya Golden Globe does not tolerate dry air, so in the hot months of the year it needs regular watering and sprinkling.
If the plant becomes loose due to age or long cloudy weather, shortening of the shoots should be applied. A short cut will encourage new shoot growth and thicken the crown.
It acquires its golden color only in sunny areas or in partial shade. In the shade, the needles become light green, and the crown is loose and sparse. Resistant to smoke and gases.
Golden Globe is suitable for creating colorful landscape compositions using pebbles or wood chips. Due to its small stature, it looks great in rockeries, rock gardens and on retaining walls.
Thuja western Hoseri(Thuja occidentalis Hoseri)
Thuja western Hoseri is a low-growing variety with a spherical crown with a diameter of up to 0.6 m. The needles are scaly, dense, rich dark green, gray-green in winter with a bronze tint.
It grows very slowly 4-5 cm per year. As an adult, the ball becomes flattened.
The variety is demanding on fertility and soil moisture, it is quite winter-hardy. Prefers moderately fertile and moist soils.
It is drought-resistant, but responds to watering in the hot season with good growth and beautiful views.
It does not suffer from spring sunshine, because. hibernates under the snow. For the first time after landing in open ground, it requires heightened attention And good care. For better survival, you can apply mulching of the near-stem circle with mowed grass or peat. In autumn, the mulch should be replaced with spruce branches. Spruce thorns will scare away field mice that can destroy the plant.
Shade tolerant, but grows best in full sun or partial shade. Holds the shape of the crown well, does not need a haircut.
Low-growing spherical shrub for small gardens, tree and shrub compositions, rock gardens and compositions mixed with perennials. Suitable for creating borders and container growing.
Materials taken from the site www.vparnike.ru
This article will consider the types of thuja - an evergreen shrub that is easy to form, their names and descriptions are given. For better clarity, we have prepared for you a photo gallery of popular varieties.
Thuja is a magnificent tree that does not require special care in the winter season. In past centuries, the plant was called the “tree of life” (many diseases were treated with its cones and needles, and the bark was used to brew tea), but even today the fragrant needles of the plant cannot leave anyone indifferent. A small thuja garden or park is an excellent place to relax and rejuvenate.
Description
Thuja is the closest relative of cypress. The height of the trunk of this tree or shrub can reach eighty meters, but varieties with an average length of 10-20 meters are more popular.
The needles of the culture are needle-shaped, green. In adult plants, a darker shade, similar to scales. The crown is dense.
In nature, thuja are found in the eastern regions of North America. Decoratively bred forms can be found on household plots of the middle lane.
Varieties
Thuja western
There are five types of tui:
- Thuja western. Plant height up to 20 m. Needles in the form of scales.
- Thuja chinensis. Trees with dense pyramidal crown. Height up to 12 m.
- Thuja Korean. This variety is rarely planted in middle lane due to the capriciousness of the plant to the temperature regime. It has the appearance of a creeping shrub. In the natural environment, the height of the culture can reach 8 m.
- Thuja Japanese, or Thuya Standish. Great option for landing on suburban area- the plant is not whimsical in care and is able to withstand severe frosts.
- Thuja folded, or Thuja giant. IN natural conditions Tui of this variety can reach 40 m in height. The height of decorative forms is 4 m. The crown is pyramidal, dense.
Features of planting and care
When planting a thuja on a site, it should be borne in mind that the plant is photophilous, but being in the sun all day, it can become dehydrated and get sick in the winter.
The soil is preferably soddy, with the addition of sand. Best time for planting - spring. Then it is recommended to feed the thuja. As fertilizers, it is better to give preference to complex fertilizers.
Watering the shrub is carried out immediately after planting, then 1 time per week.
The depth of the landing pit is 60-80 cm. The distance between group plantings is up to 5 m.
Drying out of the soil is not allowed! Young thuja seedlings are sheltered for the winter (they usually do this for the first 3 years). Adult thujas are winter-hardy.
Application in landscape design
A huge variety of forms brought thuja fame among landscape designers.
And it was they who divided these plants by application: the first includes dwarf or shrub species used to create like, rockeries; to the second - thuja of medium length, their place of application is "hedge"; the third type is single or solitary plantings - this is more tall trees highlighting design elements. The following types of trees have been used as an element of a hedge.
Brabant
Variety Brabant or Western thuja. It is characterized by good tolerance to low temperatures and a branched crown, creating an irresistible hedge. Pruning of branches should be carried out in early spring and late summer, best months will be August and April.
Thuja occidentalis is a fast growing plant reaching up to four meters in height.
When planting, to create a hedge, Brabant is planted at a distance of fifty or one hundred centimeters between the trunks, depending on desired density"hedgerow".
Emerald
Forms a narrow cone-like crown, growing up to six seven meters in height. This plant is highly resistant to frost and strong gusts of wind.
Thanks to its crown, "smaragd" is perfect for creating a "hedge" as well as a solitary planting.
A group of plants of this variety can create a memorable part of the landscape.
Holmstrap
Another view western arborvitae This is the Holmstrap variety. A feature is its slow growth, it will reach a height of two meters only ten years after landing.
It is used as a small decorative hedge, seedlings are planted in such a way that there is a distance of at least 75 centimeters between the bushes.
Holmstrap is not seasonally pruned.
rock garden
Variety Dannika
To create a rock garden or rockery, such thujas are suitable:
- Variety Dannika. Its spherical crown grows very slowly, reaching a height of about one meter, while its width is 50 centimeters. This type of thuja will look great in small gardens and areas, as a decorative element of a rock garden that does not require special care.
- Little Dorrit. It also looks like a ball, the size of the crown is 80 * 60 centimeters. It is distinguished by good frost resistance. Planting sites are similar to Holmstrap thuja.
- Hoserie. A spherical shrub reaching a height of fifty centimeters and a width of sixty centimeters. Designers prefer to use this variety as an element of low decorative hedges and rock gardens.
Rheingold
Tui used for single planting or group consisting of free-standing trees:
- Rheingold. It grows slowly. Its maximum height is one and a half meters. But it is distinguished by a spherical crown, which has a golden yellow and even brown color. Tui of this species are indispensable for solitary planting and creating a group of plants.
- Sunkist. The crown of this tree has the appearance of a cone and a rare golden yellowish color. Within 10 years, it grows up to three meters and reaches a meter wide crown. Pruning to shape this type of thuja is not required.
- Folded thuja Kornik. Very quickly reaches a height of 300 centimeters, the width of the tree is 150 centimeters. This tree is best planted in moist places on fertile soil. This plant with its bright green needles attracts the eye.
Using thuja as an element decorative design justified by the beauty of this tree, especially during the winter months, as well as the unique aroma of needles and the variety of species that can be used in all types of landscape design. The plant itself improves the microclimate of the site, plays the role of protection from wind and dust.
How are conifers used in landscape design, including thuja, see the following video:
Among the variety of varieties of western thuja, you can see aesthetic spherical beauties grown in flowerpots. These are dwarf cypresses, differing rapid growth, - giant pyramidal or columnar plants.
Thuja western has many varieties that differ from each other in various ways. Let's highlight some of them.
By height:
- tall, from 5m and above;
- medium height, 3–5 m;
- undersized, 1–3 m;
- dwarf, less than 1 m.
Crown shape can be distinguished the following types plants:
- pyramidal (conical);
- columnar;
- spherical.
There are thuja with the original color scheme of the needles: from blue to golden. Formative pruning can give these plants various original forms. Nature has provided enough options for the improvement of park areas and personal plots.
Consider the most popular representatives of the western thuja family.
Brabant
Fast growing cone cultivar. Usually grows up to 4–5 m in height and 1.5–2 m in width, but individual mature trees - up to 20 m, and crown diameter - 4–5 m. Each lived year can add 30 cm vertically and 15 cm along horizontal. The color of the needles is bright green, in winter a brownish tint appears only a little.
Brabant is a frost-resistant variety, easily withstands winter cold, is not pretentious in growing conditions. Easier to take root on moist, light, rich nutrients soils, but with proper care can be grown on dry soils. The plant is light-loving, but it is better to provide it with a balance. sunlight and shadows in a place protected from strong winds. Great for haircuts.
From a single tree, you can create a real masterpiece of decorative garden art: a ball, a cone, a pyramid, etc. A group of plants can form a dense hedge, both free-growing and trimmed.
Emerald
Thuja pyramidal shape. The plant resembles Brabant in size and shape, but grows much more slowly, up to 10 cm per year. The needles have a rich dark green color and do not change their color throughout the year. Smaragd prefers highly fertile soil and regular watering, but drought adversely affects the plant.
This variety is best placed in the light or in an area with partial shade. Smaragd is a frost-resistant thuja variety, but it is better to grow it in places protected from the winds. Tui haircut is easy and, given the slow growth, it lasts for a long time.
Although the hedge from Smaragda is not continuous (the tops of the crown do not close), with a planting interval of 0.5–0.7 m, you can get a beautiful “southern landscape”.
It is widely used both as a single growing plant and in group landings. Compositions with various members of the family and other plants look impressive and original.
Fastigiata
Fast-growing (30 cm per year) columnar thuja Fastigiata in central Russia it grows up to 6 m in height and has a narrow dense crown. Thuja branches are tightly pressed against the trunk, the needles are soft to the touch, with a strong characteristic smell, dark green in color. The color of the plant practically does not change with the change of seasons.
Fastigiata grows best in sunny places with loamy, moist and fertile soils. The variety is frost-resistant, the crown of a young tree should be protected from sunlight in late winter - early spring in order to avoid burns.
Tolerates shaping haircut well. To make the plant take root easier and faster, it is recommended to mulch the soil around the trunk. So, moisture will be preserved and the soil structure will not be compacted.
The western thuja Fastigiata is great for creating living fences, creating a tall, dense, green wall, opaque to prying eyes, and at the same time taking up little space. The plant is used in single and group plantings, in panoramic compositions. This variety of thuja belongs to centenarians, with a lifespan of up to 200 years.
Columna
The columnar tree grows up to 5–6 m in height and 1.2–1.3 m in width.. The needles are scaly, have a dark green saturated color that remains unchanged all year round. A plant with a dense crown, which is formed by short shoots extending in a horizontal direction.
The plant is fast growing, adding up to 20 cm per year. This type of arborvitae is winter-hardy, it is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but it develops better on medium-fertile soil of moderate moisture. The attitude towards drought is critical, the ideal location is places with partial shade. If necessary, you can carry out a shaping trim. Sunburn can spoil the needles, so it is better to cover the plant for the period winter - early spring.
The columnar thuja Columna is used to create a free-growing hedge with an interval of 0.6–07 m between plants. To give Columna the desired shape, a topiary haircut is suitable. It is used for arranging alleys and in compositions with other plants.
Sunkist
Thuja western Sunkist- very interesting and beautiful variety cypress. The shrub has a pyramidal shape and grows up to 4–5 m in height with a crown diameter of 1.5–2 m, has a somewhat tousled appearance. Growth is slow - about 10 cm per year. Golden color gives the plant a special charm. Thuja Sunkist needles are large, golden yellow, glisten in the sun.
The most favorable place for growing - sunny side or penumbra. In the shade, the color of the needles becomes green, and the crown loses its density.
The variety is undemanding to conditions, but prefers fertile and moist soil. Tuya Sunkist is not afraid of cold and wind. So that sunburn does not damage the needles, it is recommended to cover the crown for the winter and leave it in this position until the ground thaws.
This variety is ideal as a golden yellow hedge that looks great against darker plants. Sunkist is great at decorating alleys and as decorative elements in various landscape compositions. Looks great and alone standing plant. Using a topiary haircut, it can be given the appearance of various geometric shapes.
Golden Globe
Thuja occidentalis globular Golden Globe grows up to 1–1.2 m in diameter, adding 10 cm per year. It has a vertical arrangement of flat and dense shoots that form a crown. The plant has an interesting color: the tips of the needles, which get more sun, are golden in color, and inside the leaves are green. In winter, the bush takes on a copper hue, and in the spring it returns to its original, golden color. The root system of the plant is located close to the surface of the earth, and is intolerant of dense and overly wet soil.
Golden Globe prefers light sunny areas, but does not shy away from shade, while taking on a rich green color. The plant is frost-resistant, but it must be protected from bright sunlight with the advent of spring. It is not required to cut the thuja, but in the spring it will be useful to do sanitary pruning.
With the use of thuja Golden Globe, low hedges or borders look beautiful. Globular plants perfectly complement various decorative compositions.
Globoza
Another spherical shrub, only much larger in size - up to 1.5 m wide and the same in height. It grows very slowly - 5 cm per year, but life expectancy reaches 200 years. It has soft, large, scaly needles, the color of which varies from light green (spring), to dark green (summer) and brownish (winter).
It grows best on moist, but without stagnant water, fertile loams.
A plant with a dense crown, which is recommended to be cut every two years for rejuvenation. Globoza is a frost-resistant and shade-tolerant thuja variety. In winter, it is recommended to protect young plants from the destructive effects of heavy snow cover, for which the crown is tied or a frame is built over it.
Plants are used both singly growing and in groups. They are used to equip hedges and borders, they look expressive in rock gardens, container growing is gaining popularity - to decorate balconies and terraces.
Holmstrup
Thuja Holmstrup belongs to the columnar varieties. An adult tree can be 2–3 m high and 1–1.2 m wide. The plant is slender with a dense columnar shape even in the absence of pruning. The crown with a dense scaly shape has a dark green color and does not change in all seasons.
Thuja is tolerant of various types of soil, but the most favorable for it is fertile, moist, loamy soil. It grows better in sunny and semi-shady areas, it also tolerates shade, but at the same time it becomes less lush and beautiful. Holmstrup is a hardy plant.
It has become widespread as living fences, as part of garden and park ensembles, low alleys and single plantings. It tolerates the urban environment very well.
Teddy
Teddy - dwarf ornamental plant with a spherical crown, which is made up of thin, densely spaced shoots. At a young age, the needle needles are soft and not prickly, and become more rigid with time. The height of an adult plant is only 40 x 30 cm in height and length, respectively. The needles are dark green (bronze in autumn).
The plant is demanding on fertile soil, does not like drought, this also applies to soil and air humidity. Thuya Teddy is photophilous, prefers sunny places or partial shade, but needs shelter from the sun in early spring, when there is a risk of sunburn. Despite its small size, the plant is frost-resistant.
The scope of application are small areas, rock gardens and alpine slides, grown in flowerpots to decorate balconies.
Conclusion
Western thuja is native to North America.. The family has many varieties, among which there are tall, medium, small and dwarf plants. The shape of the crown can be pyramidal, columnar, spherical. Color palette plants is quite diverse, some varieties of western thuja change color with the change of seasons, others remain unchanged.
When choosing a plant, one should take into account not only its size, shape and color, but also other features inherent in each variety, for example:
If you take into account all these factors when choosing a western thuja, planting and caring for it, then these lovely plants will take a worthy place in any park or garden ensemble.
Botanical name: thuja western
Homeland thuja western: North America
Lighting: shade-tolerant
The soil: light loam with optimal moisture
Max Height: 20 m
Average life expectancy: up to 1000 years
Reproduction: cuttings
Thuja is one of the most common plants in the modern Russian garden. And the most popular species is western thuja.
This coniferous plant was brought to Europe from North America in the first half of the 16th century. Growing wild along the low banks of swamps and rivers, thuja turned out to be unpretentious in culture, for which, in fact, it gained its popularity.
Thuja western: characteristic
The maximum height of an evergreen tree is 20 m with a crown diameter of 5 m. The crown of young trees is pyramidal, becoming ovoid with age. The bark on the trunk is smooth, reddish or gray-brown in color. In mature trees, it begins to separate in narrow longitudinal ribbons. The needles are scaly, dark green, brown or brown-green in winter, small (up to 0.4 cm). The needles are pressed tightly against the shoot. Falls every 2-3 years along with a twig (branch fall). On the upper side, the shoots are dark green, shiny, on the lower side - light, matte.
Cones are small (up to 12 mm), have an ovoid shape. Consist of thin scales, have 2 flattened seeds. Western thuja seeds have two narrow straw-yellow wings.
The annual growth of the tree is up to 30 cm in height, up to 10 cm in width.
The wood is hearty, reddish in color, very durable, but relatively soft, without resinous passages, with a pleasant aroma. Does not rot. The root system of the western thuja is compact.
Thuja western loves sunny places, but, being shade-tolerant, most varieties do not lose their crown shape in the shade. Undemanding to fertility. From soils it prefers light loams, it grows on sandy loams under conditions of regular top dressing. It tolerates nearby groundwater well, so it can grow in areas with excessive waterlogging. And trees that have already formed a root system are resistant to dry periods. Frost-resistant. Another advantage of western thuja is its resistance to urban conditions.
The beautiful shape of the crown of the western thuja has led to the use of the tree in landscape design, where it is recommended for group and solitary plantings.
Thuja western: planting and care
For planting thuja, it is better to choose a place protected from the wind. The soil mixture for the planting pit is recommended to be prepared from 2 parts of leaf (turf) soil, 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand. You can add nitroammophoski (no more than 500 g per mature tree). The root neck does not deepen. It must be left at ground level.
Landing is well shed. In the future, during the first months, it is necessary to water the plant at the rate of 10 liters per 1 tree. Watering is carried out simultaneously with sprinkling. In dry and hot summers, watering is increased up to 2 times a week up to 20 liters under a tree. It is better to water in the morning or evening hours, so that the needles have time to dry, and the roots are nourished. Important: in the condition of a dry summer and the absence of watering, thuja can bear fruit, which will make its crown loose and not so decorative.
As for top dressing, they feed thuja complex fertilizers in early spring, after the snow has melted. If fertilizers were laid during planting, then the next time they are fed in the second year.
By winter, multi-stemmed varieties are pulled together with twine, which prevents the crown from breaking under the weight of wet snow. It is advisable to wrap young seedlings with covering material or kraft paper, this will prevent sunburn.
Types of thuja western
There are a lot of varieties of western thuja in culture, including decorative ones. Therefore, finding a suitable specimen for your garden is quite easy. The most popular are spherical varieties, varieties with an interesting crown shape and other species that are highly decorative.
Thuja western columnar is an excellent vertical element. Of these varieties, backstage is created, which is a good background for other plants. If the idea is a high hedge, then it is recommended to plant trees with a pyramidal crown.
WITH undersized varieties you can create hedges of medium height, and sometimes even borders. The main thing is that such "fences" do not require a haircut. Depending on the purpose, seedlings are planted in 1-2 rows. In addition, this conifer can be safely used as a tapeworm, when creating an alley, in rocky gardens and for curly haircuts.
Thuja western columnar and other types in the photo
The columnar thuja western is represented by many varieties. One of them is Degroot Spire.
Degroot Spire - a unique form, which is characterized by a narrow straight, columnar crown. According to most dendrologists, Degroot Spire is the most narrowly columnar variety. In the West, it is very popular, but in Europe it is still underestimated. However, Degroot Spire has a huge potential in landscaping and landscaping small areas.
With the help of this variety, it is possible to equip a very dense hedge up to 5 m high without a gap and a haircut. The thickness of such a fence is only 30 cm! This can only be appreciated experienced gardener. Such a fence takes up a minimum of space, but provides the maximum effect of a thin green wall. The average annual growth of a well-groomed plant is 20-30 cm. The height of a ten-year-old tree is 2.5-3 m.
Another popular variety with a dense cone-shaped crown is Smaragd (Smaragd). It is especially highly valued for the fact that throughout the year the needles remain saturated green, while most types of western thuja change color for the winter, becoming less decorative. Thuja grows up to 3-5 m. The average annual growth is up to 10 cm.
Columna - columnar form of thuja. It is the most resistant variety to sunburn and low temperatures. The height of an adult plant is up to 8 m, with a crown diameter of 1.5 m. Annual growth is 10-15 cm. The needles are shiny, dark green in color. Shade-tolerant. It tolerates both dry soil and excessive moisture. Can be used in hedges, alleys, single and group plantings.
Thuja western pyramidal
One of the most popular varieties is Pyramidalis Compacta ("Piramidalis Compacta"). The height of the tree is up to 10 m. A dense pyramidal crown is characteristic. The tree has similarities with Columna, however, in Piramidalis Compacta, the shoots are denser pressed against each other. In addition, they are thicker and stronger. It is considered one of the best pyramidal-conical varieties of western arborvitae.
No less popular Thuja western Douglas (Thuja occidentalis Douglasii pyramidalis) with a pyramidal crown. A tree up to 15 m high. Protruding branches resembling fern leaves look very decorative. Swamp-colored needles, flat shape.
"Salland" ("Salland") is rare because it new variety with a pyramidal crown. It is characterized by lemon-yellow needles and medium height.
Variety "Reingold" ("Reingold") - very interesting and ornamental variety. The crown is broadly pyramidal with dimorphic needles: partly scaly, partly needle-like. The color of the needles is also striking: bright, golden-orange. Young shoots are painted in a pale orange hue. The tree grows slowly: at the age of 10 it reaches 1-1.2 m.
Thuja western "Yellow Ribbon" ("Yellow Ribbon") has a narrow pyramidal crown shape. It is distinguished by golden-yellow needles, the color of which does not change in winter. By the age of 10, the tree can grow up to 2 m.
Thuja western spherical
Thuja western Danica (Danica) - decorative variety with a spherical crown. It reaches a height of 0.8 m, in diameter - 1 m. The shoots are short, densely spaced. In summer, the color of the needles is bright green, in winter, the upper part turns brown, becomes greenish-brown. This is the world's most popular globular variety of western arborvitae. The huge popularity is due to the regular crown and the correct row arrangement of needles. At the age of 10, this dwarf shrub with a spherical crown reaches 0.4 m in diameter. Compared to other globular varieties, it wins with its dark green shiny needles. The variety is frost-resistant.
Variety "Golden Globe" (Golden Globe) is also a popular variety of western thuja with a spherical crown. It is distinguished by variegated, golden-yellow needles (hence the name). Refers to slow growing varieties. At 10 years old, the tree reaches 0.8-1 m in width and height. Prefers sunny, moderately moist places.
Thuja western Globosa (Globosa) - spherical type. It is a shrub with dense, vertically growing shoots. The growth rate is slow. It tends to change color from golden green to brownish brown. mature plant has a height of up to 1.2 and a width of up to 1 m.
Thuja western dwarf
"Mr. Bowling Ball" (Mr. Bowling Ball) - dwarf, almost spherical variety. It has an extraordinary density. By the age of 10, the width and height of the plant reaches only 40 cm. The needles in summer have a dark green color, in winter they are bronze-gray, resembling a fringe. Ideal for memorial sites, heather gardens, containers. Prefers sunny places. Winter hardy variety.
Woodwardii - dwarf form with a characteristic spherical-ovoid crown. In older plants, it is more wide-rounded. By the age of 10, the tree reaches only 40 cm in width. Shoots are dense with light green needles. Needs fertile, moist soil. It looks very good in rocky gardens, containers. Differs in winter hardiness.
Little Gem - dwarf evergreen variety of thuja western. This is a dwarf form with a crown diameter of up to 2 m at a much lower plant height. The needles are dark green in summer and brown in winter. It is recommended for use in landscaping and landscaping, where it can grow both in group and in single plantings. Can be used in a rocky garden or as a hedge. well tolerated low temperatures, bad - drought.
Stolwijk - dwarf slow growing variety. In youth, the crown is hemispherical, slightly asymmetrical, very dense and dense. Over the years, the plant is significantly distributed in width. At the age of 10, the height of the plant is 1 m. The needles are green, young shoots are yellow-white. Good growth requires fertile wet ground. Recommended for cultivation in sunny places. High winter hardiness. Looks good in Japanese gardens.
– it's decorative evergreen. Shade-tolerant, frost-resistant, there are both trees and shrubs. It was brought to Europe from North America. Originally lived along the banks of rivers and swamps, undemanding to care for. Therefore, it is very popular in ornamental gardening. Thuja western has many varieties, and before choosing the one you are interested in, you need to know its features. We offer the most popular frost-resistant varieties of thuja western.
Coniferous ornamental evergreen tree. The crown is narrow, canonical, dense, compactly symmetrical, with a diameter of up to 1.8 meters. The needles are dark emerald, evergreen, scaly, shiny. The height of the plant is about five meters. The fruits are brown cones 0.7 cm in size. It grows slowly, in a year it grows only 5 cm wide and 10 cm high.
Thuya Smaragd represents columnar varieties, but without a haircut it has the shape of a cone. The plant is unpretentious, lives for a long time (up to 150 years) and perfectly adapts to different conditions. weather conditions. It grows in almost all soils, but prefers fresh loam and soil with lime. Handles city conditions well. Very hardy, but suffers from sunburn in early spring.
Important!After snowfalls, branches should be shaken off so as not to damage the crown of the thuja, and in spring it is necessary to cover the plant (especially young) from sunburn.
It is better to plant a plant in lighted places, although it tolerates shady places well. Perfectly ionizes and purifies the air. It is grown as a container culture, used in the creation of living fences and any backyard compositions.
Did you know?Thuja western Golden Smaragd was noted in Warsaw at the international exhibition "Green is Life" in 2008 with a bronze medal.
It is a coniferous evergreen tree. Represents columnar and fast-growing varieties of western thuja. The only variety that reaches a height of more than eight meters. In a year it grows up to 20 cm in height and 4-6 cm in width. Lives up to two hundred years. The crown is narrow, vertical, columnar, about 1.5 m in diameter. Its needles are dark green, scaly, shiny even in winter. The fruits are round brown cones.
Seeds are narrow, flat. Thuja Columna is unpretentious, but does not tolerate compacted soils and requires moist, not overdried soil. It prefers lighted and shaded places, in the sun its crown will be dense and bright, and density is lost in the shade. It has absolute frost resistance. This is the most cold-resistant culture of all varieties of western columnar arborvitae. Great for creating living high fences. Propagated by cuttings.
Thuja Fastigiata variety is a powerful columnar decorative coniferous tree with a narrow and dense crown. The height of the plant is more than six meters. Annually grows 25 cm in height, and 5 cm in width. The bark of young plants is red-brown in color, and adults are gray-brown, smooth. The needles are shiny, scaly, emerald green. The fruits are rare, elongated, brown cones about 1 cm long.
The plant is winter-hardy. It is recommended to plant thuja Fastigiata in well-lit or shaded places. Prefers fertile, moist, lime-rich soil. This type Tui looks great in single and group plantings, suitable for beautiful panoramic compositions, plantings in hedges. The plant lives up to two hundred years.
Evergreen coniferous shrub round shape. The height of the plant is 1.5 meters and the same width. It grows slowly: five centimeters in height and five in width per year. Lives 200 years. The crown of the plant is dense, spherical. The fruits are round, brown, up to 0.7 cm. The needles are dark green, large, scaly.
Did you know?Thuja western Globoza has been known in culture since 1874.
It is used for low living fences, single and group decorative plantings. Likes lighted, windless and shaded places. Prefers moist, fresh, without water stagnation soils, fertile loams. It tolerates various top dressings well. Frost-resistant.
This is a spherical dwarf dense shrub with straight and flat, upturned and densely spaced shoots. The needles are golden, yellow-green, scaly, large. The variety is slow growing. An adult plant reaches about a meter in height and 1.2 meters in width.
The root system is superficial, does not tolerate dense soil with an excess of moisture. Thuja western Golden Globe prefers lighted and shaded areas.
Important!In the shade, the plant will lose its golden color, it will become rich green.
Prefers fresh, moist, fertile loam without stagnant water. The variety is frost-resistant. Do not forget that in early spring, when the soil has not yet thawed and the bright sun is shining, young plants can get burned by needles.
Therefore, you need to cover them with agrofiber or spruce branches until the soil melts. It is used for low hedges or borders, for a spherical accent in various decorative compositions.
A dwarf coniferous ornamental spherical plant with thin, densely spaced shoots that are covered with needles in young plants is Teddy's thuja. Growth is extremely slow. The height of a ten-year-old plant is 0.3 m, and the width is 0.4 m. The needles are dark green (bronze in autumn), thin, needle-like. The crown is spherical, slightly loose over time.
Will require sufficiently moist (does not tolerate dry air and dry soil) and fertile soil, but from overfeeding it grows rapidly and loses its shape. Recommended for small household plots, rock gardens, alpine hills, rocky and heather gardens. Prefers light or shaded areas. It is frost-resistant, but can get sunburned in early spring, so be sure to take appropriate precautions.
This unique variety thuja western, having original form with a characteristic narrow-pyramidal and fairly dense crown. The plant can grow up to two or three meters. Even without a shaping haircut, it retains its classic columnar shape. Crown width 1.2 meters.
Important! This species has the most dense crown among other varieties of western thuja.
Perennial coniferous ornamental evergreen plant. Grows per year 10-20 cm in height and 4-6 cm in width. Shoots are relatively short, densely spaced. The needles are thick, dark green, scaly, do not change color all year round. Thuja Holmstrup is unpretentious regarding soils, but prefers fertile moist loams, does not tolerate dry and waterlogged soil. 
It is better to plant it in lighted areas or in partial shade. Thuja Holmstrup in the sun is bright and dense in shape, in the shade the crown thins - not enough photosynthesis. Frost-resistant. It is used in group and single plantings, live fences, garden labyrinths and low alleys. Perfectly withstands urban conditions.
One of the most valuable varieties of thuja western with golden color pine needles, great for creating a golden yellow wall that contrasts with darker plants. Perfectly decorate alleys and various landscape compositions. This is a coniferous ornamental evergreen cone-shaped large shrub. The height of the plant is 3-5 meters, and the width is 1.5 meters. Its branches are vertical and densely branched, slightly twisted.
The needles are scaly, shiny, large, bright, golden yellow in young plants. It grows well in the sun or in partial shade, and turns green in the shade, the crown becomes loose. The variety is unpretentious, but will require fertile, fresh and moist soil. The plant is frost-resistant, wind-resistant, shade-tolerant. Afraid of sunburn in early spring, so you need to cover the plant with agrofiber or spruce branches. Shelter is removed when the soil thaws.
Did you know? Carl Linnaeus in 1753 first described the western thuja. Then she got her biological name.
Thuja western Rheingold
Slow-growing (annual growth of only five centimeters) coniferous dwarf shrub of conical or ovoid shape. By the age of ten, it reaches about 1.5 meters. The color of the needles is changing: golden yellow in summer, and brown in winter. Young branches are covered with needles, and on adults the needles become scaly. The fruits are round, brown cones about 0.7 cm.
